All posts by Alexander Alvarado

About Alexander Alvarado

My name is Alexander Alvarado. Call me Alex. I enjoy art, especially poetry and literature. I'm a bit shy but I can get over that pretty quickly. I'm a very open-minded person. Get to know me!

A Global Problem

Marsh Restoration

The common reed known as Phragmites is a large grass found in various wetlands throughout the earth. A subspecies of this grass, particularly Phragmites australis, has proved to be very invasive in North American habitats. The proliferation of this species has often been shown to cause changes in the different ecosystems in which the plant thrives. Now, the question at hand is: Should we try to combat the proliferation of certain “invasive” species like Phragmites in our attempt to restore the environment to its natural balance?

In answering this question, we have many things to consider. First of all, and perhaps this is the most important consideration of all, what are the conditions that are allowing for the seemingly disruptive invasion of this plant species? If we view this apparent ecological imbalance as a reflection of the state of the habitat, then we arrive at a broader and more complete picture. As a study published on www.fws.gov stated, “Phragmites is usually an indicator of a wetland ecosystem that is out of balance.” Indeed, it is the imbalance of the ecosystem in the first place that allows for the undesired explosion of this plant species, not the other way around. The article goes on: “When commercial and residential landowners expand paved roadways and parking areas, establish large grass lawns, apply fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, or destroy streamside buffers of native trees and shrubs, negative impacts can also be felt in downstream wetlands… [This] can cumulatively reduce tidal influence, increase runoff, reduce water quality and encourage the establishment and spread of Phragmites.”

Another significant point to consider is the method used to restore these natural habitats. Quite shockingly—especially to an avid reader of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring—some have proposed and carried out the use of herbicides and other chemical (and quite toxic) “solutions” to try and address the problem. These attempts are not only extremely ineffective and destructive but they also betray a profound witlessness and an ignorance of the balancing forces inherent in nature. As anyone who has had the opportunity to come across Carson’s research in her famous book—which, I might add, was published over 50 years ago—knows, using toxic chemical substances on precious habitants is potentially one of the most harmful and destructive practices that anyone can impose on the environment. This is not to mention the plethora of journal articles and scientific papers since then that have denounced this ongoing practice. In fact, we find in one example that although the chemical pesticide DDT—infamous for its link to several types of malignancies, including breast cancer—was banned in the 1970s, a widespread blood test conducted in 2005 by the Centers for Disease Control confirmed the presence of this chemical in virtually every human sample taken. It reveals just how ironically invasive and long-lasting this approach is.

Clearly, the real issue here is very broad and multi-faceted, yet, at the same time, quite simple. The underlying situation is one that reveals the fundamentally destructive relationship that the human race has chosen to have with the natural environment. The continuing harmful practices upon nature and the generally selfish perspective of our world has dug a deep, black figurative hole in our precious earth which only gets deeper and wider as some try desperately to fill it in. The implications are much greater than simply having a few extra Phragmites to deal with in the local salt marsh; we are really dealing with a severe problem of global climate change. I said it in class, but I’ll say it again: without correction for this profound disharmony in our dealings not only with nature but with each other, a confined restoration effort is like trying to build a house of cards on a windy beach.

Innocent Destruction, or Something More?

Destruction of the Salt Marshes

One of the fundamental roles in determining the state of the various ecosystems found throughout the planet is perception—how does one view the world around him? In order to study the effects that perception, closely tied with culture, has on the treatment of the natural environment, we can focus on the history of the area now known as the northeastern United States. The Native Americans that lived in these areas had a unique relationship with the earth, vastly different than the one most European societies shared. They had a deep reverence and respect for the elements of nature, which caused them to treat the natural environment with great care and conscientiousness. Their sense of identity was inextricably tied to the earth, partly because of their religious beliefs but also because of their awareness that logically, we as humans depend on the earth to sustain us; that the very condition of the human race is a reflection of the condition of the earth. And yet, how many years must it take the modern day civilizations, with their proud developments and unnerving manipulations of nature, to realize this very thing? Or perhaps, in a tellingly more sinister reality, they already have realized it.

When the colonists arrived in the Americas, they began to alter the environment in an unprecedented manner. They treated it with a relative indifference inherent of many technologically developed societies, viewing the natural world as a conglomerate of unexploited gold mines. Things were becoming all about the market, all for commerce. If it wasn’t profitable, then it wasn’t valuable. At first, we may be able to be a little more forgiving of the colonists’ treatment of the environment—of course, only if we look past their obvious encroachment on the Natives’ lives and lands. But it was certainly the case that the Europeans were not aware of the true effect that their actions had on the environment. With lack of scientific evidence, the colonists’ were probably able to maintain their perception that the earth had a nearly infinite amount of exploitable resources. This led to their relentless pursuit of the precious materials that the environment provided. While at first salt marshes were prized for their salt hay, which served to sustain livestock, the perception of this valuable ecosystem changed quickly as the market demand fluctuated. And when they became increasingly associated with undesirable pests, the New England salt marshes turned into an object of persecution. The filling of these wetlands had a tremendous impact on the environment, only fully realized well into the 20th century. And so, the question remains: Now that we knew this information, what were our subsequent actions? Did we finally stop destroying our ecosystems without first assessing the effects that it would have on the environment? Let’s look at the facts.

As early as the 1960s, and probably even earlier, a new environmentalist consciousness began to emerge. With the scientific data now piling up, people began to speak out against the practices that were destroying our planet. And so, many laws and policies were put into place. But the signing of a law and its enforcement are two different things. A 2011 article in the New York Times reports on a massive lawsuit against big energy companies such as BP and Exxon Mobile, demanding that they “should be held responsible for fixing damage done by cutting thousands of miles of oil and gas access and pipeline canals through the wetlands.” Yes, despite the lengthy laws, the destruction of our precious resources continues well into the 21st century. And if that isn’t enough to irk you, just take a look at these powerful statistics about our environment:

Posted from Worldcentric.org

  • We are losing forestland at a rate of 375 km2 each day. This is more than the total area of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware combined!
  • The world has already lost 80% of its original forests.
  • 1.1 billion acres of tropical forest were cleared in just thirty years, between 1960 and 1990.
  • Brazil lost 91.4 million acres of its tropical forest between 1980 and 1990. This is almost the total area of North and South Dakota combined.
  • At the world’s current rates, 5-10% of tropical forest species will become extinct every decade.
  • 75% of all the fish stocks in the world are already either: exploited, over-exploited or recovering. 27% of coral reefs have already been and 70% of Earth’s coral reefs will cease to exist within the next forty years. The world has lost half of its coastal wetlands, including mangrove swamps and salt marshes.
  • In the next 30 years, as many as one-fifth of all species alive today will become extinct. 23% of all mammals and 12% of all birds’ species were considered “threatened” in 2003.

A Holistic Approach to the Lenapes’ Interaction with Nature

Land of the Lenapes

We live in a society that loves to pronounce itself as the most advanced, even the most superior, in all of human history. One thing that is often mentioned to support this argument is the advancement of medicine and technology. However, let us for a moment concern ourselves with the broader picture: the physical wellbeing of the individuals living in a society. Let’s take a look at what has occurred throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Little by little, we as a society—specifically those of the U.S. and other “first-world” countries—have been distancing ourselves more and more from the way our ancestors used to live. Not only have we seen vast changes in our daily labor, which includes an immense expansion of the service sector, but we have also seen a tremendous alteration in the type of food we eat, the medicine that we use, and the diseases we need to treat.

Nowadays, a typical day at work is sitting at a desk all day in front of a computer screen, hardly breaking a sweat or feeling the warmth of the sun stimulate our skin cells. Studies show that not only has the quality of our food dramatically decreased, but also the amount of adulteration to our food by laboratory-made additives and artificial preservatives has strikingly increased. What has been the result of these drastic lifestyle changes? Well, the statistics speak again. In the past few decades, we have seen an appalling increase in chronic disease. The prevalence of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease has skyrocketed, and the use of prescription drugs has multiplied greatly. Tellingly, studies have increasingly shown that many overweight people in the U.S. are actually malnourished. How is this possible? Well, this is the result of most Americans adopting a diet extremely high in calories but very low in nutrients. Most unnerving, however, is the stubborn tendency of medical practitioners to turn away from nature and a holistic approach in favor of a contrived, pharmaceutical one. Let us now consider the way a population of Native Americans known as the Lenapes interacted with the natural environment.

The Lenapes lived in an agriculturally centered society. This meant that every able member of society was to contribute to the cultivation of crop, which benefitted the individuals and the society in numerous ways. For one thing, the people lived physically active lives. They were out in the sun every day, working the earth and feeling the sun and smelling the plants. A great number of studies have shown the benefits of daily physical exercise and the therapeutic value of connecting with nature. The Lenapes consumed crop of the utmost nutritional value, as it didn’t have to travel long distances and was never sprayed with carcinogenic pesticides or herbicides. They also ate seasonally, letting nature provide them with a variety of nutrients year round. Everything they consumed was wholesome and unrefined—even the meats, which were wild caught.

Of course, the medicinal practice of the Lenapes is also well documented. Every family had an extensive knowledge of various plants and herbs, which they used to treat ordinary sicknesses and injuries, and they treated the sick person according to the specific needs of his or her body. These sorts of treatments have been proved to be effective century after century in various cultures. In fact, despite our early indoctrination in the modern health practices, many in the 21st century have increasingly turned to herbal remedies and holistic measures. In the end, the question we must all ask ourselves is: Are we really better off as a society?

Bioblitz at Central Park

Bio Blitz

The Bioblitz at Central Park was a rewarding experience for me. It was a nice, warm morning, and honestly, I hadn’t taken advantage of such beautiful weather in a little while at that point. I truly love getting out and enjoying the wonderful plant life, especially in the summer. So in this simple respect, the Bioblitz was a treat to me. I was reminded of how gorgeous Central Park really is—I hadn’t been there since last spring, and I’ve only been there about a handful of times despite being a New Yorker my whole life. I’m definitely inspired to explore more of the park one of these days, hopefully before it starts to get cold.

I was actually assigned to the plant group at the Bioblitz. I didn’t mind that at all. We took a pleasant, slow walk around the southern end of the park. I don’t think I’d ever explored that area before, so that was nice. I definitely had the sudden desire to lie down and take a nap under a tree a few times during the walk—but I had to resist until at least noon. It was very warm and a little breezy, perfect day to be at the park.

Along the way, we took note of a good number of different species of plants. In the beginning we came across a tomato vine in an unexpected area, with the fruit still bright green. Further on, we encountered and identified several different types of plants that I hadn’t ever fathomed a name for in all my years of arbitrarily examining these backyard organisms. Meanwhile, the botanist we were with recited the Latin designations off the top of her head. It was an enjoyable experience for me. I rarely ever take the time to study different plant species side-by-side and take note of their subtle differences or similarities, so I took the opportunity to pick the leaves and fruits off the plants we stopped to record and examined them carefully. For example, I momentarily learned how to differentiate between a few species of maple—by now, however, the specific information has drifted from my mind and the different leaf shapes have coalesced in my imagination to once again form a more general impression of treetop matter.  Regardless, I was genuinely interested as I listened to the botanist explain the complex and efficient functioning of the different plant types. I did, at some points, contribute a few tidbits of knowledge that I retained from the AP Bio class I took in high school—that felt slightly satisfying. As we continued our walk in the park, I took pleasure from the different aromas that surrounded the area. If I wanted to zone in on something, I picked it off the stem and brought it close to my nose. I never did have a fear of pollen.

It would have been nice to examine some of the other ecological aspects of Central Park, but overall, I would say I had an enjoyable experience studying the plant life. It was definitely a great opportunity to wind down and closely examine the beauty around us—something that we as humans dedicate less and less time to as the centuries pass. A lack of appreciation for nature has undeniably contributed to an unnatural and alienated relationship with our beautiful earth. It’s no wonder that so many feel free to trample on what many would have called a paradise. Not only are we making our home less and less of a paradise, but we have also come to the point of threatening the existence of habitable conditions on our planet altogether. How much further will the chaotic, greed-fueled brawl for our earth’s resources continue? How much more unremitting devastation will we bring upon our planet? I don’t think any human is capable of answering that question . . . but I do think that if it wasn’t abruptly stopped we would ultimately come to our end in a relatively short amount of time.